Nepal ‘ease’ venture

1 Nepal is a serene country, I ventured this beautiful country in the month of November when the weather was little chilly as winter was setting in.

2 The food is pretty affordable and the city of Thamel should definitely be a pit stop as it is known for both its Nepalese and International cuisines. I tried all kinds of cuisine, however, being a vegetarian all of my experimentation on the food there was centered around veggies.

3 The accommodation is pretty economical and the city has a great night life. One can really travel here with a shoestring budget. As an Indian travelling to Nepal you do have quiet an edge as a tourist.  Entry into most places for Indians is inexpensive. In fact, Indians get a visa on arrival! This always is quiet comfortable don’t face any hassles while booking a ticket. Indians also have lower price options at adventure sports which is a big boon. Although the country does have a few designated tourist spots like the Kopan Monastery in the outskirts of Kathmandu. None the less the entire country is worth exploring as there is a lot to see.

4 Considering the mode of transportation within the town is most important while planning your trip. I had some issues hiring bikes locally. Even though I had an international driver’s license, there were laws in place that did not allow non-residents to hire rentals. However, I did manage to get some electric scooters which surprisingly lasted fairly long distances in a single charge. I also travelled via cycles, cabs and on foot. Most of the time, I had to crack deals with cabbies. Some basic Hindi and basic bargaining will go a long way! Travelling locally via buses is another safe option as it is pretty affordable. There are a ton of local markets, especially in Thamel. There are interesting things to buy all around. I came back with a few clothes, a couple of music CD’s and postal stamps.

5 During the month of November it tends to get cold so, I would suggest carrying thermals and some warm clothing. Kathmandu’s air is pretty polluted and a lot of the smaller roads are quite dusty, so, carrying a good reusable pollution mask also definitely goes a long way!

— as told to Arjun Singh